About Datana contracta Walker, 1855
Datana contracta Walker, 1855, commonly known as the contracted datana, is a species of moth belonging to the family Notodontidae. This species is distributed across eastern North America, ranging from Maine in the northeast to Florida in the southeast, and extending westward to Arkansas and Wisconsin. The wingspan of adult contracted datana moths measures between 35 and 50 mm. Larvae of this species have been documented feeding on the foliage of several plant types: blueberries, hickories, oaks, sycamore, and witch-hazel. In the state of Alabama, larvae have specifically been found feeding on water oak, laurel oak, and sawtooth oak.
